Mooshoepork
Established
When he’s lying for internet clout I think so.
The man couldn’t even make a ham sandwich let alone a “premium point and shoot”
Lying is his usual go to though. Same with the film he “made” 🙄
Sierra Club
Established
Why all the hate? Seems counterproductive as always...
Bellamy has found his market niche and as all businessmen he triest to maximize profit.
I guess he should just send free film rolls to everyone to be considered a gentleman.
I, for one, am grateful that there are still people who are fascinated with film and old film gear and who are vocal about this.
I even kind of envy him that he makes some money from his hobby and gets to see all the rare/good stuff in the Japanese used camera stores.
If what he does encourages even one person to take up film photography as a hobby, then I'm all for it. Nobody's forced to buy his merchandise.
I've learned quite a lot from his blog posts about Nikon, Contax and Leica cameras and lenses.
Let's focus on something positive, like not letting film die.
Bellamy has found his market niche and as all businessmen he triest to maximize profit.
I guess he should just send free film rolls to everyone to be considered a gentleman.
I, for one, am grateful that there are still people who are fascinated with film and old film gear and who are vocal about this.
I even kind of envy him that he makes some money from his hobby and gets to see all the rare/good stuff in the Japanese used camera stores.
If what he does encourages even one person to take up film photography as a hobby, then I'm all for it. Nobody's forced to buy his merchandise.
I've learned quite a lot from his blog posts about Nikon, Contax and Leica cameras and lenses.
Let's focus on something positive, like not letting film die.
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Mooshoepork
Established
If anything selling expired repackaged film is killing film. Support manufacturers that are actually currently making it.
I don’t know how much I agree with the argument that him drawing a camera on a napkin and pretending he had any intention or capability to make a camera is in any way “helping film” but to each their own
jukka
Established
I couldn't agree more.
I have no idea about Bellamy´s business ventures, possible lies, scams, or whatnot. However, branding yourself online is a tough business where prisoners are not taken. This is something us consumers should keep in mind.
Now, while I haven't bought his film (due to the high price), among the many useless internet personalities, Bellamy seems genuinely passionate and knowledgeable about film photography.
Mooshoepork
Established
“His” film is expired Agfa Aviphot.
He doesn’t even develop his own film or really shoot so I’m not sure where you got that impression from.
The fact he even compared expired Agfa to Neopan 400 should tell you enough
Certainly passionate though about cameras
jukka
Established
Look, if you think internet personalities are always 100% sincere, you might be a little naive. Just saying
Sierra Club
Established
Your logic is flawed.
Assuming this is indeed expired old Agfa stock - wouldn't it otherwise be left forgotten and possibly wasted?
I've bought a Voigtlander lens from Bellamy and am very happy with the purchase and advice he provided to Leica system newcomer that I was.
He didn't tell me to buy a Summilux so he could get more money from me.
He said I should start with a cheap but great CV lens and guess what?
He wasn't lying, I'm genuinely happy with this purchase and use this lens on a daily basis.
I've also asked him to sell me 5 rolls of the film branded with his logo.
I've shot it, and was happy with the results. Saved one empty box just out of sentiment.
I don't really care if he devised the chemical formula for the emulsion or not.
Just like I don't care that Nikons aren't hand made by Japanese who sell them.
I also buy Ilford, Fuji, Kodak, Rollei etc. film to support the large companies and keep the medium alive.
Andy Kibber
Well-known
In my limited interactions with JCH I've found Bellamy (who is the point of contact) to be responsive, accurate and friendly. The lens I bought was exactly as described, well packed and shipped quickly.
I also bought five rolls of Street Pan, but haven't developed and printed it yet, so I can't comment on its quality.
His prices are not cheap, but based on my interactions I did not get any sense of dishonesty at all.
Trying to get a compact camera developed & manufactured is a huge undertaking. I expect JCH/Bellamy was overly ambitious on that. To his credit, however, he did not set up a Kickstarter to finance the project. If he doesn't deliver on the camera, everyone will be exactly as they are now. No worse off.
I also bought five rolls of Street Pan, but haven't developed and printed it yet, so I can't comment on its quality.
His prices are not cheap, but based on my interactions I did not get any sense of dishonesty at all.
Trying to get a compact camera developed & manufactured is a huge undertaking. I expect JCH/Bellamy was overly ambitious on that. To his credit, however, he did not set up a Kickstarter to finance the project. If he doesn't deliver on the camera, everyone will be exactly as they are now. No worse off.
BWF
Established
I have had nothing but positive experiences buying gear from JCH. Always accurately described gear and easy to deal with.
Mooshoepork
Established
How is my logic flawed?
One product doesn’t support people actually making fresh film. You’re effectively buying second hand film at a ridiculous markup.
That’s fine if that’s what you want to do, but don’t act like he’s saving film. He’s literally just selling expired stock and lying about its origins.
I’m not saying there’s any issue with him selling lenses/his business of selling cameras.
Mooshoepork
Established
Look, if you think internet personalities are always 100% sincere, you might be a little naive. Just saying
You’re the one saying he’s knowledgeable about film?
Just saying
George Mann
Member
You will find the same thing on eBay, but these sellers usually don't lie about the films origin.
hap
Well-known
sounds like a Fuji Natura S...which I have and also hoarding Fuji Natura film. I once thought it was just rebranded Superia 1600. But now, not so much.
JoeV
Thin Air, Bright Sun
Using film that would otherwise be thrown out helps expand the overall usage of film. People often use outdated film to learn on, which helps grow the market of film consumers.
Imagine if people quit buying used cars. Great for the manufactures, right? Or maybe it’d be a sign of a decline of interest, a shrinking market. Or, perhaps a better analogy would be typewriters. There’s a growing groundswell of interest in mechanical writing machines, the used market is crazy hot right now (good luck finding the curvy, green-key early 1960s Hermès 3000 less than $300 now). It’s growing interest in these machines — if a quality new product hit the market now, it’d be a hot seller, regardless of price.
Back to film, if JCH finds a good market for selling outdated film, that’s a sign the market demand is healthy. It’s also a sign prices are too high for new products, which should be a clue that more efficient manufacturing processes need to be found.
jukka
Established
Hmm, I suspect you might have an unhealthy obsession with Bellamy. This sometimes happens when people have unrealistic expectations of celebrities. As stated, especially internet celebrities tend to over emphasize some aspects of their personal life in order to generate interest and thus develop their brand. Usually this is done in order to sell merchandise, but from time to time it causes people to develop patterns of attachment that, among others, lead to controlling behavior.
Governments regulate marketing and try to protect consumers, but with personal online branding this is difficult and in the end it is the responsibility of each individual to read social media with a critical eye.
I hope this helps – life doesn't have to be frustrating
Seriously speaking, I do find street pan over-branded (does everything has to be street this and street that?) and over-priced. I just never really felt the need to whine about it on the interweb. That said, I've much enjoyed Bellamys camera histories on YouTube.
I’ve actually heard that his ham sandwiches are great... exactly as he advertised them.
Andrea Taurisano
il cimento
As long as his talking about sandwiches and displaying nice sandwiches makes people wanna buy more ham and bread, I say kudos to JCH. Besides his obviously great contribution to keeping film alive, he's a very decent guy. Why should running a businness be despisable?
Archlich
Well-known
I have a feeling that the "premium film compact" ship has sailed at this point. A $2,000 and probably (initially) buggy camera would have hard time competing with the rest of the pack, which have become increasingly out of ordinary people's reach themselves. Sinking millions of $ into the R&D looks suicidal to any potential investors.
Mooshoepork
Established
This argument doesn’t make sense. Why would you buy the most expensive black and white film to learn on?
You use the word manufacture but it isn’t manufactured, it’s just a dishonest scam. Maximum profit, minimum effort
Yes, this is where you failed and why you think these business practices are ok
I’m not sure if you’re being deliberately obtuse or you sincerely don’t comprehend. Running a business isn’t despicable. Being dishonest is.
There’s no issue if Bellamy came out and was honest about what the film actually is. He won’t though. That, in my opinion, is gross. It takes advantage of people that don’t know better and does the opposite of supporting film.
Support companies that actually MAKE film. How is this hard to understand?